Developing a comprehensive, community-based asthma education and training program

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Pediatric Asthma Management
• Health Education

Background:

• Asthma exacerbations pose a significant health burden in pediatric and adolescent populations.
• Community-based interventions are crucial for accessible and sustainable health management.
• Effective asthma education programs require tailored approaches for different age groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of the Community Asthma Prevention Program (CAPP).
• To outline strategies for establishing and promoting a community-based asthma education initiative.
• To highlight the program's focus on preventing asthma exacerbations in young individuals.

Main Methods:

• A 5-hour asthma education class series delivered weekly over five sessions.
• Simultaneous classes for parents (health educator) and children (peer educator) in community locations.
• Implementation of a train-the-trainer model to build community capacity for asthma education.

Main Results:

• 774 parents and 570 children have completed the program to date.
• An 80% retention rate was observed for participants completing the 5-week program.
• The train-the-trainer model successfully equipped community members as asthma educators.

Conclusions:

• The Community Asthma Prevention Program (CAPP) demonstrates a successful community-based model for pediatric asthma education.
• The program effectively engages both parents and children, leading to high retention rates.
• The train-the-trainer approach enhances program sustainability and community reach for asthma prevention.